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Tonight’s game between the Lady Bears and the TexAnns features a matchup between the Big XII Preseason Player of the Year, 6’7” Kalani Brown and the Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year, 6’2” Mackenzie Hailey. Its also Halloween, so there’s trick or treat and a costume contest for kids 14 and under.
Tonight’s game will also feature Baylor’s four new highly ranked freshmen. Coach Mulkey says she’s gonna throw ‘em “to the wolves.” There might be some wolf mixed with bear in these freshmen, so look out TexAnns.
The game will be broadcast live online via Baylor and IMG Sports Network, watch or listen.
7:00 PM CT, Baylor University Ferrell Center
From Baylor Athletic Site
WBB Hosts Halloween Exhibition Tuesday - BaylorBears.com - Baylor University Official Athletic Site, No. 3-ranked Baylor women's basketball hosts Tarleton State in exhibition action on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. (CT) inside the Ferrell Center.
In the spirit of Halloween, kids 14 and under can trick-or-treat at halftime in the Stone Room, located inside the Ferrell Center, and participate in an in-arena costume contest judged by mascots Bruiser and Marigold.
It is the first opportunity for fans to check out the Lady Bears' roster of 10, comprised of two seniors, one junior, three sophomores and four freshmen.
Baylor returns six letterwinners and two starters from last year's NCAA Elite Eight squad, including junior All-American and 2018 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Kalani Brown and senior Preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention selection and co-captain Kristy Wallace. Also returning for the Lady Bears are 2017 Big 12 Sixth Man Award winner and 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention selection sophomore Lauren Cox, senior co-captain Dekeiya Cohen, sophomore Natalie Chou and sophomore Juicy Landrum.
After graduating a successful class of seniors, 18th-year head coach Kim Mulkey bolstered the Lady Bear roster with the addition of the No. 2 ranked recruiting class (Prospect Nation), comprised of Alexis Morris, Trinity Oliver, Didi Richards and Moon Ursin. The class was also ranked No. 4 nationally by ESPN Hoopgurlz.
Lady Bears Go Through Opening Workout - BaylorBears.com - Baylor University Official Athletic Site, With only six returning players from her fourth straight Elite Eight team, Kim Mulkey knows her four freshmen are going to be thrown to the wolves, where they can learn and grow up quickly.
When you have four freshmen, three sophomores, one junior and two seniors, each day of practice they will get better and they will become more confident," said Mulkey, who has a career record of 506-96 with seven Elite Eight appearances in the last eight years. "Their ability is there, they have the skill. What they lack is playing at this level, practicing at this level every day.
Junior post Kalani Brown, a returning All-American and Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, said she is reminded of her freshman season, "when we didn't really have time to sit there and learn."
"(Mulkey) just kind of threw us out there in the fire, and we had to learn quickly," said Brown, who averaged a team-high 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game last season. "It's kind of like that (this year), but the freshmen are picking it up well and they're quick learners. . . . We're going to need all 10 of us, everybody's going to have to contribute early."
The 6-7 Brown, 6-4 sophomore Lauren Cox and 6-2 senior Dekeiya Cohen will have to rotate at the two inside positions, but Mulkey said she can "mix in a Natalie Chou as a post player with one of the bigs, because it's going to be a mismatch for the other team."
From Tarleton State Athletic Site
TexAnns announce 2017-18 basketball schedule, open season at Baylor - Tarleton State, Tarleton is coming off a 16-14 campaign where they advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Wilson as head coach after winning the LSC tournament championship.
TexAnns tabbed third in LSC Preseason Poll, Hailey named Preseason Player of the Year - Tarleton State, Mackenzie Hailey was tabbed the LSC Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 16.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season.
The sophomore won LSC Newcomer of the Year honors and the LSC Tournament MVP award in her first season with the TexAnns. Hailey is the first TexAnn to be named LSC Preseason Player of the Year since Kiara Wright in 2014.
"It's a great honor to be nominated by the coaches and staff, but it was based off my play from last year and it is preseason," said Hailey. "I'm going to build off last season and try to be the best player I can to help my team out."
The TexAnns return eight players from last season's squad that went 16-14 and 12-8 in the LSC. The roster features three returning starters in Hailey, Tiara Tatum (8.3 points) and Kylie Collins (3.9 points). Tatum and Baylee Peck (2.3 points) are the only seniors on the roster. Coach Wilson and her staff filled out the roster by adding seven players, including two Division I transfers.
"The two transfers, Katie Webster and McKinley Bostad, they've come in and really made a big impact on our team after losing the seniors that we did," said Wilson. "They've been able to step in and give us the experience and leadership we need."